Conor Benn has issued an emotional assertion on his loss to Ryan Garcia, after struggling a second-round stoppage by the American on Saturday.
Benn was combating for a world title for the first time as he challenged Garcia in Las Vegas, where the WBC welterweight champion needed fewer than 5 minutes to dispatch of the Briton.
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Benn had lost once before, but Saturday’s important occasion marked his first knockout defeat, as Garcia floored him with a big proper hook then swarmed the “Destroyer” against the ropes, forcing the referee to step in.
Conor Benn after his loss to Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas (Getty)
“Everybody keeps asking ‘What’s next for Conor Benn?'” Benn wrote on X on Monday. “The truth is, I don’t have the answer.
“If you’d requested the 19 yr outdated model of me whether I thought I’d be standing here ten years later, having lived through everything I have, I’d have informed you that you were loopy.
“I train hard. I sacrifice. I’ve given this game 110% every time I’ve stepped through those ropes, I’ve wanted to give people unforgettable nights and entertain. That’s what this has always been about for me.
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“People spend their hard-earned money to come and watch guys like us battle. I’ve never taken that for granted. I’ve always wished to be a servant of the public and give everything I have when it issues.
“But giving everything comes at a cost. And the people who have paid that cost more than anyone are my family and my kids.
“They’ve sacrificed time with their Dad so I could chase this dream. They’ve had to share me with this sport their total lives. So when people ask me what’s next for Conor Benn, proper now the reply is easy. Time with my youngsters.
“Fight fans, thank you. Those who travelled to Vegas, those who stayed up until the early hours. I will never take your support for granted, especially on those nights things don’t go to plan.”
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While difficult Garcia, Benn was combating at welterweight for the first time in two-and-a-half years. Since his last outing in the division, the 29-year-old fought thrice, all at larger weights – including his two bouts with Chris Eubank Jr in 2025.
Garcia floored Benn with a huge proper hook in spherical two (AP)
Those contests took place at middleweight, with Eubank Jr outpointing Benn in April, before Benn returned the favour in November. And a trilogy battle between the bitter rivals could be next, and Eubank Jr was fast to mock Benn for his loss on Saturday.
Eubank Jr, 36, tweeted: “Welcome to the ‘fighting after cutting too much weight’ club… Enjoy.” The former world champion was referencing his desire of combating at super-middleweight at this stage of his profession.
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Meanwhile, Garcia could be set for a unification battle against WBA champion Teofimo Lopez, who tried to enter the ring and face off with “King Ryan” on Saturday.
Benn’s battle with Garcia was controversial on account of each man having navigated a drug-test controversy in the previous.
Garcia failed a drug take a look at in 2024, main to a one-year ban, despite the 28-year-old sustaining his innocence. In 2022, Benn had failed two drug exams that saw him provisionally suspended from boxing in the UK, until he was cleared to do so in 2024. Benn equally maintained his innocence all through the episode.
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